armed forces – The Church of England in Parliament

Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about trauma training for armed forces chaplains

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked a question on specialist trauma training for armed forces chaplains, during a discussion on support for victims of sexual violence in the armed forces on 9th December 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham: My Lords, given that chaplains routinely provide partial support for victims of crime, including sexual offences, can the Minister outline what steps His Majesty’s Government are taking to ensure that Armed Forces chaplains receive specialist trauma-informed training so that they can support survivors of sexual violence? Is such training consistent across the services?

House of Commons considers Armed Forces Chaplains and Abuse Redress Measure

On 1st December 2025, the House of Commons Delegated Legislation Committee sat to consider two Church Measures, the Armed Forces Chaplains (Licensing) Measure and the Abuse Redress Measure:

The Chair (David Mundell MP): I call the Second Church Estates Commissioner to move the first motion and to speak to both Measures. At the end of the debate, I will put the question on the first motion, and then ask the Commissioner to move the second motion formally.

Marsha De Cordova MP (Lab, Battersea): I beg to move,

That the Committee has considered the Armed Forces Chaplains (Licensing) Measure (HC 1454).

Church Commissioners Written Questions: Armed Forces – Ukraine

On 12th November 2025, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following written answer to a question from an MP:

Armed Forces: Ukraine

Mark Pritchard MP (Con, The Wrekin): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what support the Church of England is providing to military chaplaincy training in Ukraine.

Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham tabled a question on the effectiveness of recruitment and retention policies for the armed forces on 7th July 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of their recruitment and retention policies for the armed forces.

Bishop of St Albans asks about gambling in the armed forces

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 9th May 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government whether they have a tri-service policy that sets out the process to be followed in the event that a serving soldier develops a gambling addiction.

Bishop of St Albans asks about gambling in the armed forces

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 7th May 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government how much money was made from fixed-odds betting terminals located on Ministry of Defence property in (1) 2021, (2) 2022, (3) 2023, and (4) 2024; and who was the beneficiary of any such money.

Votes: Armed Forces Commissioner Bill

On 30th April 2025, the House of Lords debated to the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:

Armed Forces Commissioner Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendments on whistleblowing

On 30th April 2025, the House of Lords debated the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill in report. The Bishop of Norwich spoke in support of amendments to the bill tabled by Baroness Goldie to establish whistleblowing functions within the functions of the Commissioner:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I support Amendments 3 and 5 in the names of the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, and the noble Earl, Lord Minto. I am also very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, for the way in which he has engaged with us on the Bill and, in particular listened well in the scrutiny stages.

Bishop of St Albans asks about gambling in the armed forces

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 22nd April 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government

what estimate they have made, if any, of the number of problem gamblers who are serving in the Armed Forces.
what support is available to problem gamblers who are serving in the Armed Forces.
what assessment they have made of gambling-related harm among (1) veterans and (2) people currently serving in the Armed Forces; and what assessment they have made, if any, of gambling participation rate in those groups.

Armed Forces Commissioner Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendments on families of service members

On 19th March 2025, the Bishop of Norwich spoke in favour of amendments to the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill regarding support for families of service members:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, it is a privilege to follow the noble Lord, Lord Shinkwin, and the reflections that he has offered the Committee. I rise to support Amendments 8 and 9. I am grateful to the noble Earl, Lord Minto, and the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, for outlining their thinking around this issue because it goes to the heart of how we as a nation care for and see the well-being of our Armed Forces and their families, as part of the whole package that we offer to them.

As I think noble Lords know, I speak as the father of a member of the Armed Forces. It is often said that a parent is only as happy as their least happy child. On one level, I can imagine that it is also true that a member of His Majesty’s Armed Forces is only as happy as their least happy family member. So there is a pastoral duty here—one that is supported by many in the Armed Forces, including welfare organisations and our military chaplains—but both these amendments would help us really state the pastoral support that we as a nation feel is important for not only our Armed Forces personnel but their children, their families and their dependants.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: